Latest news with #abattoirs
Zawya
3 days ago
- General
- Zawya
Dubai Municipality launches comprehensive campaign to enhance customer experience at abattoirs during Eid Al-Adha
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai Municipality has launched a comprehensive campaign to ensure a safe, hygienic, and streamlined experience for customers at its official abattoirs during Eid Al-Adha. The initiative ensures an environment equipped with integrated services dedicated to the inspection and preparation of sacrificial animals in line with the highest standards of public health and food safety, guaranteeing that the emirate's community enjoys a safe and healthy Eid. All four abattoirs — Al Qusais, Al Quoz, Al Lisaili, and Hatta — are fully prepared to receive sacrificial requests and deliver services promptly and reliably. Operations have been optimised across all stages of the sacrifice process, including pre- and post-slaughter veterinary inspections conducted by specialised veterinarians to enhance public health protection. Qualified, well-trained butchers will be on site throughout the Eid period. In addition, an advanced sterilisation system has been deployed to preserve meat quality and prevent contamination across the production line. As part of the campaign, the Municipality is encouraging the public to use approved smart applications to book, pay for, and receive their sacrifices. These apps allow customers to avoid livestock markets or abattoirs entirely, with options for home delivery by trained personnel using dedicated vehicles that meet strict hygiene and safety requirements. Adel Al Karrani, Director of the Public Health Services Department at Dubai Municipality, affirmed that the health and safety of the community remain a top priority. 'This campaign is part of Dubai Municipality's wider public health system and reflects our commitment to ensuring a seamless and safe customer experience through our accredited abattoirs,' said Al Karrani. 'Each facility is equipped with modern technologies, skilled personnel, and integrated smart systems that increase operational capacity while maintaining the highest levels of food safety.' He added that maintenance works have been completed at Al Qusais Abattoir ahead of the holiday to further enhance service quality and customer satisfaction. Dubai Municipality has set the operating hours for all its abattoirs from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM throughout the Eid Al-Adha holiday. To support the campaign's objectives, the Municipality has implemented a comprehensive plan to manage livestock markets during the busy Eid period. Between 60,000 and 80,000 heads of livestock are expected to enter the markets during Eid week. Inspection teams will be deployed to ensure the quality of livestock, monitor areas with high footfall, and regulate the movement of people and vehicles through key entry and exit points — especially during Arafat Day and the main days of Eid. Dubai Municipality has issued a public reminder of the dangers associated with unauthorised slaughtering outside official abattoirs. Such practices pose significant risks to both public health and the environment. The public is urged to rely on the Municipality's approved smart services and certified abattoirs to ensure that sacrifices are conducted safely, hygienically, and in accordance with all legal and religious guidelines. -Ends- For media inquiries, please contact:
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Surrey farmers say abattoir closures a 'growing problem'
A farmer in Surrey has said the lack of local abattoirs is a serious and growing Windridge, head of farming at the Hampton Estate in Seale near Farnham, said he has struggled to find a local alternative after the abattoir he used at Farnborough closed four months ago. It comes just days after the owner of one of the last remaining small abattoirs in south-east England said he was "incredibly concerned" about the future of the industry.A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesperson said: "Small abattoirs make a vital contribution towards maintaining our resilient food supply chain." Mr Windridge, who manages a herd of Sussex beef cows, told BBC Radio Surrey: "It is affecting small local businesses because there just aren't enough abattoirs you can put your animals through. "We're just struggling with that whole local aspect at the moment. "What would be really helpful would be some investment in local abattoirs and less red tape from the government." Luke Smith, who runs Down Land Traditional Meats in Henfield, West Sussex, and is also a farmer in Dorking, said: "Without more financial support from the government, slaughterhouses may not survive."I cannot see more people wanting to come into the industry." The government said it is "committed to working with the meat processing sector in tackling the challenges they face".A Defra spokesperson said: "We are investing £5bn into farming, the largest ever budget for sustainable food production, and are unlocking rural growth with reforms to boost farmers' profits."
The Guardian
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Government records show emergency killings of thousands of livestock after transport to Australian export abattoirs
Thousands of sheep, pigs and cattle are being subjected to emergency killings after transport to Australian export abattoirs, an analysis of internal government records shows. Curtin University researchers have also found it is taking almost 11 hours, on average, to inspect animals for injury and sickness after they arrive at abattoir facilities – delays that 'significantly increase the likelihood of animals requiring emergency euthanasia'. Last month, Guardian Australia revealed shocking instances of animal cruelty associated with the nation's export abattoirs, including the mass hypothermia death of 103 sheep during truck transport, which went unpunished by the state regulator. The Guardian also revealed veterinarian whistleblowers had repeatedly warned of 'profound' problems with the federal government's oversight of the sector, with one complaint alleging the flawed system risked jeopardising Australia's relationship with major trading partners. Curtin University researchers have also been probing animal welfare issues associated with the nation's export abattoirs, analysing 631 welfare incident reports compiled by government veterinarians in 2020 and 2021. Those reports were released publicly in 2022 after the Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi led a push requiring them to be tabled in parliament. In a paper last week, Curtin University researchers said their detailed analysis of the documents revealed 'significant welfare problems with farmed animals arriving at meat export slaughterhouses, especially in pigs'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The paper found emergency killing was the most common response to welfare incidents, used in about 60% of cases, or on 2,476 animals. Another 140 animals were found dead on arrival at abattoirs. The researchers also found significant delays in inspecting animals after they arrived at abattoirs. The time between delivery and detection took 10.8 hours on average, most likely because of late deliveries of animals. 'That's obviously a long time for any animal to be in a state of severe welfare disadvantage,' Prof Clive Phillips, one of the paper's authors, said. Phillips said the 631 welfare reports suggested a significant number of animals were experiencing serious welfare issues during transport. 'Overall, about 4% of animals that are transported were affected by one of these incident reports and most of the welfare problems are quite serious,' he said. 'One of the biggest ones, handling problems, [is] due to problems with the driver or dogs, [as well as] calving and pregnancies during transportation; lameness was a big problem, skin injuries … Pretty well all of them will have a significant effect on the animals that are affected, but also on the animals that are crammed in with them.' The paper suggested a range of reforms, including stronger farm inspections to determine which animals were fit for transport, and the removal of financial incentives to transport unfit animals. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion A spokesperson for the federal agriculture department said the regulation of livestock transport is a matter for state governments. The spokesperson also said export abattoirs must have procedures in place to assess livestock on arrival. 'If livestock is not suitable for slaughter appropriate action must be taken,' the spokesperson said. The Guardian's investigation last month revealed whistleblowers had submitted a series of complaints in recent years about the state of the agriculture department's on-plant veterinarian system, used to monitor animal welfare at export abattoirs. The whistleblowers complained that disturbing animal welfare incidents were going unreported to state regulators and that the system was chronically understaffed, leaving some facilities unmonitored. Another veterinarian whistleblower resigned in disgust over changes restricting the ability of vets to enter pens to inspect animals, something he said rendered him unable to safeguard animal welfare. The department rejected those allegations. A spokesperson said at the time that it had a 'robust regulatory framework and takes regulatory action, where appropriate, for breaches of animal welfare requirements'. The Australian Meat Industry Council, an industry peak body, has previously said the number of welfare incident reports tabled in parliament show the success of the oversight system and said it equated to about '0.0058 per cent of the total number of animals processed through export abattoirs during that time'.
